Interviewing while Pregnant?

[kbond]

I've had an unexpected job interview materialize. (I sent an application yesterday afternoon, they emailed me back at 8PM asking to schedule something for either today or Monday morning. Woah...) The job is for a full-time associate attorney position at a small firm.

I'm also 21 weeks pregnant currently and was planning to put my job search on hold soon.

My question is what do I do/say about my pregnancy. I am definitely showing--although, it's not distinctive enough to be automatically perceived as a pregnancy. I could just be fat. But, I will also definitely need at least 6 weeks off starting in January.

[JordanKX]

I've been on both sides of this - hiring, and being the one interviewing.

My situation was a little different - I was also 20 weeks when I interviewed (and got hired), but it was for a summer job, something that could "potentially" be ending right about the time I was due, so the timing worked perfectly.
In that situation, I did not disclose. I struggled with that thought, but in the end, knowing the timing of the 4 month position, I decided that they should hire me for ME, not taking the growing belly into account. It was also front-desk at a community center, where I thought the belly wouldn't be an issue.
It wasn't. They hired me, and I disclosed during THAT conversation, oh by the way, I am pregnant; I am due X... does that change your opinion? haha.
Granted... there was silence for a moment. This was certainly a surprise to the manager. But in the end, they decided the same thing - the pregnancy wasn't an issue.

On the flip-side, I was hiring for an assistant a few years back. It was a FT position. And a very wonderful, qualified, person applied. And was very open about her pregnancy.
It seemed discriminatory to not hire her on the basis that she was pregnant. However, because I needed someone with some longevity, the idea of maternity leave (even for two months) was more than our company could deal with. It was a very hard call. But, at the time, and not being a parent yet, I summed it up with someone saying - oh, by the way, I also have a cruise scheduled for three weeks.... I'll be back and in great form, but I will need the scheduled time off. And in that case, I wouldn't have hired that person either.

So... IF you choose to disclose, which if it's a FT position, I think you probably should.... you should definitely make a case for your long-term plans. You plan to return to work after X weeks. This has already been decided by you & family, etc., and how you absolutely plan on making this happen (even if you change your mind as time goes on). Something to ensure that this is a job you're interested in and (gulp), baby is not going to alter that. (that's just a horrible way to put it... but...), you are applying for a job. That's really all the company cares about.

Good luck!!!

[34me]

I got my current position at 7 months pregnant, there was no hiding it. (he will be 12 in 2.5 weeks and was a 10 pounder). It is actually illegal for them to ask you anything about your status until you accept the position. During my first official day my supervisor said "so, how pregnant are you?". That was the first time it came up So it really is up to you and what you are comfortable with.

[SilverFish]

i would definitely check out your state laws and make sure you know where it says if you have to disclose or not. it probably says you are within your rights not to disclose, and i definitely would not during the interview. JordanKX, no offense, but your reaction to that employee is exactly why pregnant women need to be so careful about when they tell their employers. your decision not to hire a pregnant woman based on her pregnancy was completely illegal, and unfortunately, many women face this same issue.

the best time to tell your employer is probably after the interview, after you have been made an offer, either when you accept, or the first time you see them after accepting (doing it in person, and after you have recieved some kind of paper documentation of your hire, contract, etc).

discrimination based on pregnancy is illegal. i understand WHY employers do it, but it's still wrong. unfortunately, many people don't understand it, so you should do what you can to protect yourself. i just won a legal battle with my previous employer (i was hired, and then fired immediately upon learning of my pregnancy... had i disclosed right away, i have absolutely no doubt i wouldn't have been hired at all).

[Baby_Cakes]

Don't forget that you are interviewing *them* too, to decide if you want the position. I wouldn't feel obligated to even mention the pregnancy, showing or not, until an offer was made. And at that point, it would be to make sure I was eligible for paid mat leave or not.

Good luck!

[~ Wonderful Life ~]

"It seemed discriminatory to not hire her on the basis that she was pregnant. However, because I needed someone with some longevity, the idea of maternity leave (even for two months) was more than our company could deal with."

Don't want to be critical, JordanX, but this is 100% illegal if you are in the US. Factoring a health condition into a hiring decision (including pregnancy) is completely illegal.

Employers are not supposed to factor in your pregnancy when they make a hiring decision, but as you can see from the PP, it happens all the time.

I would not disclose. You are not obligated to do so and it shouldn't make a difference in their hiring decision anyway.

[kbond]

I realize that it is illegal for the employer to ask and that I have no obligation to disclose. But since I am showing, explicit disclosure seems a bit moot anyway. And in a fat phobic society and a profession that does value appearance, I'm not entirely sure if it is better to just be perceived as fat or to take my chances on the pregnancy disclosure.

But, I just finished the first interview and didn't disclose so apparently I did make a decision on some level. I just hope the next round is scheduled before I put on any more weight. I feel like a sausage in a casing!

[justKate]

Originally Posted by kbond

But, I just finished the first interview and didn't disclose so apparently I did make a decision on some level. I just hope the next round is scheduled before I put on any more weight. I feel like a sausage in a casing!

Gosh, I'm wondering about this too. Not pg yet, but hoping to be pg right around the time I'll be needing a new job. I would have done the same thing for the first interview.

Do you think the firm is big enough to be subject to FMLA?

For the other readers--would your answer be different if the employer were the Federal government?

[texmati]

Originally Posted by JordanKX

But, at the time, and not being a parent yet, I summed it up with someone saying - oh, by the way, I also have a cruise scheduled for three weeks.... I'll be back and in great form, but I will need the scheduled time off. And in that case, I wouldn't have hired that person either.

No, it's more like someone saying-- hey I need time off for my surgery, or some other medical necessity. A guy at my work got into an accident and needed about 6 weeks off-- no one made a fuss. The 6 weeks off you get for leave is to actually medically recover from the birth.

Anyways, pp, I would dress professionally, not mention anything about the pregnancy. If it comes up, you could say something about being fully committed to your job etc.

I'd mention it as part of negotiations after an offer comes in.

[kbond]

The firm is 4 attorneys, 3 support staff, and 2 paralegals so no, it doesn't fall under FMLA.

Unfortunately, I won't know how it went until I find out if I made the cut to the next round of interviews.

And, dressing professionally was possible, but if this next interview doesn't take place within a couple of weeks, I'm not sure what I'll do. My suit barely fit, and pantyhose were very difficult to get on. I suspect that for the next interview, I'll probably have comfy maternity clothes waiting in the car for when the interview is done!

[poorlittlefish]

I don't have time to read all the other responses but I am working right now at a company that I interviewed with at 13 weeks.

I didn't disclose the pregnancy until I got the offer. I accepted and only after I put in my notice did I realize that I wouldn't qualify for FMLA due to not being here for a year and the company size. They only gave me 6 weeks of maternity leave and it was horrible. That alone would have kept me at my other job had I known.
Also, starting a new job when you are going to have a young one at home is hard. I don't know your current situation but starting a new job, I don't feel comfortable leaving early if I need to or calling in sick if my baby isn't feeling well. My DH does it all.

Anyways, if I had to do it over again I would have dislosed earlier and had the conversation about leave up front. Leaving my baby that early will scar me forever (I know, overly dramatic but it is still fresh, I have only been back 2 weeks ).

So, good luck with everything but I recommend disclosing.

[poorlittlefish]

Another side note---FMLA only comes into the picture if you have worked there for over a year. Don't expect just because the company is big, that they will give you the 12 weeks that FMLA mandates.

[kbond]

As I said previously, the firm is not big enough to be covered by FMLA and at this point, even if I was hired by a firm large enough to be covered, I will fall outside the 1 year requirement.

But, not having a job isn't really an option. I have been looking for almost a year now. While I have been able to cobble together some contract work, it's not enough. I am a little bit worried about going back after the new baby is born because I have not had that experience. With my daughter, I was able to take basically 12 weeks because I took off the term she was born in, and then I took her to classes with me. It wasn't until she was 9 months old that I stopped caring for her full-time, and then my DH took over.

It's not going to be like that this time even if I don't get this job. But I have to believe it will still work out.